What is the green skills gap (and why does it matter)?

The built environment is in dire need of sustainability talent. Here are 10 skills that can help close the growing green talent gap. The UK is in a race to…

Climate change denial: 6 common myths, debunked

What are the biggest climate change denial myths, where do they come from, and how do they affect the built environment? In 2020, the United Nations (UN) declared a climate…

What is carbon offsetting (and is it just another form of greenwashing)?

Is carbon offsetting actually having a positive impact on the environment, or is it just another way businesses avoid taking real action? Sustainability is in a state of transition. As…

What is greenwashing (and how can you spot it)?

What are the different ways businesses attempt to remarket and camouflage their environmentally damaging products and operations? With concerns around the ongoing climate crisis growing and new legislation being set…

This Amsterdam office is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings

If you think of sustainable buildings, you might picture places like London, Shanghai and New York. But did you know that the most sustainable and smartest building in the world…

What is biophilic architecture? 15 real-world examples in the built environment

When coupled with sustainable development, biophilic design can offer significant benefits for the built environment. As an industry currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, the built environment…

The criticism of ESG: why is it becoming controversial?

Despite their growing popularity, ESG policies and practices have attracted criticism from many. Here’s why. Profit and appetite for risk are no longer the sole factor considered in investment decisions.…

A guide to ESG: what is it and why does it matter?

ESG has grown from a small CSR initiative into a global business priority and a multi-million-dollar industry. Here’s why it matters. The factors that determine success for a company have…

Material banks, explained: could they be the path to a circular future?

Material banks could help reduce the enormous amounts of waste produced by the demolitions of buildings and infrastructure. Here's how they work. A wide array of different materials, components and…

Edenica: a case study for the circular economy in the built environment

The Edenica project is more than just another modern looking development in the heart of London - it could represent the future of construction in the built environment. At first…

What are material passports (and how do they work)?

Just as our passports track the journeys we make across the world, material passports can keep a record of how materials are created, utilised and recycled. There’s no avoiding the…

Sustainability and climate action in the built environment: a UCEM panel

Several members of staff at UCEM took part in a panel discussing the institution’s role in sustainable education and governance. Here’s what they had to say. On Tuesday 23 April,…